Stevens Statement on Trump Proposal to Eliminate Funding for Key Manufacturing Program
WASHINGTON – Today, Congresswoman Haley Stevens (MI-11) made the following statement after the release of President Trump’s budget proposal for Fiscal Year 2021, which called for the elimination of federal funding for the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s Manufacturing Extension Partnership.
“The Michigan Manufacturing Technology Center and MEP Centers around the country are a great American success story,” said Congresswoman Stevens. “By giving small and medium-sized manufacturers the resources and expertise they need to grow and innovate, the Manufacturing Extension Partnership program has consistently delivered value to taxpayers while helping advanced manufacturers thrive. I am incredibly disappointed that the President’s latest budget proposal calls for the elimination of this proven, successful program that is supported by my colleagues on both sides of the aisle. During such a volatile time for our manufacturing economy, it is shortsighted and irresponsible to eliminate a program that has helped thousands of manufacturers improve operations, integrate new technologies, and create jobs.”
The Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) is a public-private partnership, comprised of 51 MEP Centers in all 50 states and Puerto Rico, dedicated to helping small- and medium-sized manufacturers with services ranging from process improvement and workforce development to specialized business practices, including supply chain integration, innovation, and technology transfer. In Fiscal Year 2019, the Manufacturing Extension Partnership helped manufacturers achieve $15.7 billion in sales, $1.5 billion in cost savings, $4.5 billion in new client investments, and helped to create and retain 114,650 U.S. manufacturing jobs. The Michigan Manufacturing Technology Center, the MEP Center for the State of Michigan, is headquartered in Michigan’s 11th Congressional District.
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